1851

1851: Poetry and songs from the fatherland

2nd - 20th February

Takes part in the celebrations in honour of the returning soldiers and hears first-hand stories about the conditions they experienced during the war. The poem "Landsoldaten's Hjemkomst" (The home-coming of the soldier) is printed in the newspaper Fædrelandet (The Fatherland) on 10th February and HCA himself finances 2,000 copies for distribution at a function in "Ridehuset". Fetches books of ballads, paid for by Reitzel, and distributes them amongst the soldiers.

18 February

Release of Fædrelandske Vers og Sange under Krigen (Poetry and Songs from the Fatherland during the War). HCA had gotten this idea a week earlier, on the 13th: to collect the war-time poetry of the nation and release it, using the proceeds to help "the wounded and the families of the fallen". Reitzel was enthusiastic about the idea and took the task upon himself.

6 March

Mrs Emma Hartmann (nèe Zinn, married to the composer J.P.E. Hartmann) dies. HCA's poem in memory of her is printed in the newspaper "Fædrelandet" on 13th March. On the same day, he attends her funeral and is deeply affected. The daughter, Maria, dies at 6 years of age on the night before the funeral of her mother.

1851: Travel book: I Sverrig (In Sweden)

9 March

H.C. Ørsted dies. HCA is present with the family during the final hours. He takes a quick walk to the Collins' and when he returns, Ørsted is dead. Has a commemorative poem published in "Fædrelandet" on 11th March. HCA feels that he has lost two of the people who understood him best and valued him most in his circle at home in Denmark. Notes in the diary on 19th: "Tired of life, thought of sickness and death, wish for death but without pain".